Armed group shoots Puncak Jaya residents

An armed group shot residents of Tinggi Nambut, a remote area in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, on Friday morning, injuring three people, local police has reported.

Puncak Jaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Cris Rihulay told Antara news agency that the residents were on a car passing through a bridge crossing the Gurage River, when they were shot by a group of men at around 10 o'clock. A motorist was also shot during the incident.

Cris said they police were still gathering information from three injured victims. The police chief said they have yet to conclude whether the group was separatists.

The incident was the last one involving fire arms in the area.

In January, Free Papua Movement (OPM) separatist fighters reportedly attacked a police post and made off with four firearms in. A 21-year-old police officer's wife was stabbed in the chest.

Police said there were two active OPM group in Tinggi Nambut, one led by Goliat Tabuni and the other by Anton Tabuni.

In 2004 Goliat led a 100-strong group which ambushed the same village. Gunmen controlled Tinggi Nambut for four days before leaving when soldiers and police officers stormed the village. The OPM rebels have been fighting for the independence of Papua since the early 1960s. (dre)